THE Aberdeen centre back believes that he and his team-mates passed a test of character in the stunning 2-1 victory in Glasgow and showed how much they have progressed under Derek McInnes.

Mark Reynolds (left) celebrates at the end with captain and scorer Russell Anderson

MARK REYNOLDS last night claimed Aberdeen have shed their big-game bottlers tag after dumping Celtic out of the Scottish Cup.

The Dons kept their dreams of a Double alive with a stunning 2-1 triumph at Celtic Park.

After reaching their first final in 14 years last weekend in the League Cup, the Pittodrie men came from behind to take their place in a last-eight draw which will only have four top-flight teams left.

Goals from Russell Anderson and Peter Pawlett wiped out an early opener from Anthony Stokes to give the Dons their first Parkhead win since 2008.

And stopper Reynolds insisted: “‘When you go down that early it’s going to be difficult – we’ve all seen Celtic go on to score five or six in that situation.

“‘Everyone was touting this as the week to make or break our season so it was nice to come out the other side of it with two victories.

“A lot of people were hoping it would break our season but we’ve shown there is a new Aberdeen.

“The team that was here before would have started crumbling under that kind of pressure. There was no player on the pitch carried here – we all stepped up.”

Boss Derek McInnes also expressed pride at his side’s comeback – and insisted the fear which can engulf managers and players when they go behind at Parkhead simply never came.

His team now have an even better chance of earning their first silverware in 19 years, a hoodoo which has haunted plenty of Dons managers out of Pittodrie.

And McInnes said: “Last week was a good hurdle to come over and that reinforces the belief.

“We were reinforcing to the players that there was a game to be won at 1-1. When we were here a couple of months ago and the game was 1-1, we missed a couple of opportunities and Celtic ended up winning.

“I said then that for us to really progress we have to make sure we are the winners. So that pleases me no end. The players thought they could go and win it.”

Pawlett was the man who sealed the victory but McInnes revealed he then had to take the midfielder off on doctor’s orders.

And after watching the 23-year-old throw up afterwards, he admits it was the right decision.

The Dons boss said: “Peter’s fine – I’m sure winning will make it easier for him.

“However, he has been sick which obviously you have to be mindful of. I wanted to keep him on but the doctor over-ruled me on that one.”

McInnes refused to get carried away with his side’s triumph and said: “It would be disrespectful to say anything other than we are at least in the fight.

“There will be seven other teams in the draw who will be thinking the same.”

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